xB Browser
As a way of avoiding spyware and pop-ups, Torpark successfully allows you to surf the Web anonymously, although the publisher warns of possible connection slowdowns.
The self-extracting file installs quickly, and you can run it from your hard drive, or as the publisher suggests, from a jump drive. Torpark adds to your browser’s toolbar a few unobtrusive buttons, which allow you to activate/deactivate the tool and configure its privacy settings according to your specifications. The tool effectively restricts pop-ups; blocks surreptitious installations of adware, spyware, and cookies; and hides any traces of your surfing. You can check the Torpark Tools menu while visiting a site and build a list of blocked items for the current page; from the same list box, you may add to a white list any or all of the displayed items.
The publisher cautions that using Torpark may slow your Internet connection speed, particularly if you’re using a dial-up, but we noticed no slowdown during our tests. Torpark is free, easy to use, and suitable for all users interested in protecting their privacy while visiting Web sites.
The main advantage compared to other anonymous Web browsers is that xB Browser requires no configuration or technical knowledge in order to achieve anonymity. xB Browser is open-source so you can feel safe knowing what goes into our code. Additionally, it is even portable on a USB stick so you can take it to work, school, or on vacation. xB Browser does not store a cache on the user hard drive, nor does it store cookies, so there is no mess to clean up with eraser programs. xB Browser also has advanted features such a DOM object and flash cookie protection, cross-site scripting, attack prevention, and java proxy control. xB Browser can also detects and disables hidden and malicious browser addons that are hidden in the windows registry. When used in the free mode, xB Browser will connect to the internet through the Tor anonymity network. For greater security and speed, users can upgrade to the XeroBank anonymity network at any time.
License: Free
Limitations: No limitations
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a simple and fast solution for remote control, desktop sharing and file transfer that works behind any firewall and NAT proxy. To connect to another computer just run TeamViewer on both machines without the need of an installation procedure. With the first start automatic partner IDs are generated on both computers. Enter your partner’s ID into TeamViewer and the connection is established immediately. With over 15 million users TeamViewer is a standard tool to give support and assistance to people in remote locations. The software can also be used for presentations, where you can show your own desktop to a partner. TeamViewer is completely free for private use.
Version 4.1.6320 has fixed possible crash on program startup using Windows 98 or Windows ME and improved support for Windows 7.
TeamViewer is an excellent screen-sharing and file-transfer app that can be used to facilitate business collaborations as well as helping distraught relatives diagnose and cure computer problems. Along with being free for noncorporate use, it gives users precisely the tools they need to share screens securely, send files with a minimum of hassle, control access rights, and even flip which user has control.
The options available while you’re in control work smoothly. You can maximize the pane that the other computer’s screen is visible in, as well as utilize several smart options from a drop-down toolbar in the center of the window. A big X lets you close the connection, while the Actions button lets you switch whose in control, disable remote input, and reboot remotely. The View menu hides options to adjust the screen resolution, the optimization toward speed or quality, and control multiple-monitor displays.
When you log in, you’re given an access code and a password. Sharing those allows your computer to be controlled by the level you set it to: remote support, presentation, file transfer, or VPN. The TeamViewer servers remember which computers you’ve connected to, so reconnecting to previously shared computers happens faster. TeamViewer also has a Web-based version, for remote connecting to home from public computer. Even the installation process is impressive. Users can toggle admin rights, can opt out of running at startup, and can opt into installing the TeamViewer VPN driver for more secure screensharing. Overall, TeamViewer makes screensharing and file-sharing as fluid and unobtrusive as it should be.
License: Free
Limitations: No limitations
Google Desktop
Google Desktop will offer full text search over your email, computer files, chats, and the web pages you’ve viewed. By making your computer searchable, it puts your information easily within your reach and frees you from having to manually organize your files, emails, and bookmarks. It introduces new ways to access relevant and timely information. When you view a web page in Internet Explorer, it caches or stores its content so that you can later look at that same version of the page, even if its live content has changed or you’re offline. It organizes email search results into conversations, so that all email messages in the same thread are grouped into a single search result.
Simple, small, and free, Google Desktop indexes your hard drive the way Google’s own servers index the Web. Your search results are returned in a Web-page format that looks very similar to the Google Web site. The application’s sidebar regularly updates the status of your e-mail, photos, RSS feeds, and weather.
Although the initial indexing period can crawl–especially if you have a lot of e-mail, contacts, chat transcripts, and documents for it to parse through–it’s well worth the wait to be able to search any of them from a text entry box that’s installed next to the Quick Launch bar. You’ll still find the same basic gadget content: a music player, sports and stock tickers, a file shredder, and wackier items like an interactive plant. We like the Desktop sidebar’s built-in to-do list, notepad, and the capability to integrate other gadgets with ease.
Version 5 is fully compatible with Windows Vista, emulating the rounded corners and translucent panels and capable of overriding the native Vista sidebar. There’s also cross-indexing for multiple machines and sharing panel items directly with friends. The sharpest new feature is the preview window for search results, which saves a lot of time on clicking, opening, and closing. Version 5.8.811 adds support for Windows XP SP3 and Firefox 3, and adds a preference to display the deskbar on the left of the taskbar.
License: Free
Limitations: No limitations
Advanced SystemCare Free
Slow down, freeze, crash, and security threats are over. Advanced SystemCare Free is a comprehensive PC care utility that takes a one-click approach to help protect, repair, and optimize your computer. It provides an all-in-one and super convenient solution for PC maintenance and protection. All work will be done with 1 click and 1 minute. Compared with its nearest competitor, Advanced SystemCare Free provides the more essential and practical formula for Windows: Removing Spyware and Adware, Preventing Security Threats, Privacy Protection, Fixing Registry Errors, Temporary Files Cleanup, Startup Cleanup, Repairing Windows, Speeding up System and 1-click Mechanism.
This utility offers a one-stop-shop for cleaning and maintaining your computer for better overall system performance. The interface is very simple, featuring only a few buttons, which makes it easy to get down to cleaning immediately (in fact, it automatically runs on start-up) and doesn’t confuse you with multiple steps.
The Maintain Windows section focuses on four areas of maintenance: spyware removal, Registry cleaning, a privacy sweep, and deletion of junk files. The Diagnose System button provides system optimization tools, detects spyware, defragments your disk, and scans for hijacked Windows settings. In our tests the scan and clean for each of these areas took less than 10 minutes to complete. In many of these scans, it is difficult to tell what exactly is being accomplished by some of the tools, but we were able to test against other trusted apps, which confirmed Advanced SystemCare’s efficacy in those areas.
Under the utilities section you are given several tools, which are similar to plug-ins, for other areas of optimization and diagnostic tests. Overall, Advanced SystemCare Free is a good way to maintain your system’s speed and clear out junk files, but you’ll need to remember to run it regularly because scheduling of scans is only available in the paid Pro version.
Windows 7 Release Candidate
Windows 7 is the updated version of the Vista operating system from Microsoft. It was built around feedback from users and has been developed to work with touch screen controls, among other features.
However, because Microsoft isn’t providing technical support for the Beta, we strongly recommend that only experienced computer users sign up. How experienced? At minimum, you should be comfortable backing up a computer, formatting a hard drive, burning an ISO file to DVD, and installing an operating system from scratch. You should also be comfortable troubleshooting problems on your own. If you’ve not used beta software before, please read the warning messages and make sure you know what you’re getting into.
Windows 7 provides an improved taskbar and full-screen previews. Jump Lists put the documents you want handy and the ones you’ve used recently a couple clicks away. Desktop enhancements simplify how you work with the windows on your desktop. You’ll have more intuitive ways to open, close, resize, and arrange them. Introduced with Windows Vista, Windows Search helps you find virtually anything on your PC quickly and easily. Windows 7 also makes search results more relevant and easier to understand. Available now, Internet Explorer 8 helps you do what you want online, faster. With Windows 7, you’ll use a single Devices and Printers screen to connect, manage, and use whatever printers, phones, and other devices you have on-hand.
CNET REVIEW
License: Free to try
Additional Requirements:
1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit), 16GB disk space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit), DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0
Limitations: No limitations
Broadband Speed Tests - Is There Any Point?
Gone are the days when those who have Internet connection at their homes had to suffer congested lines and super-slow connection speeds which are provided by dial-up modem services.
As the demand for higher-speed Internet services has increased, more and more subscribers are switching to broadband Internet - choosing it over the traditional dial-up Internet services.
To have a deeper understanding of the reason behind the high demand of consumers when it comes to broadband Internet services, take a look at its benefits:
1. Broadband Internet allows an individual to free up the phone lines while connecting to the Internet at the same time. If you have a dial-up modem, this is not possible because you will be using the phone line to connect to the Internet - unless you have two separate phone line.
2. With broadband Internet services, you can finish uploading or downloading data at a speedier rate.
3. Browsing through web pages using a broadband Internet connection is much faster.
4. Your online activities will be optimized if you have broadband Internet services, from instant messaging, Internet calling to file sharing.
5. More importantly, broadband Internet is more cost-effective as compared to dial-up Internet services.
Broadband Speed Test: Its Definition and How it Works
If you already have a broadband Internet connection at home, you may have stumbled upon sites which offer free broadband speed tests.
How exactly do broadband speed tests work? Are they accurate? What benefits will you get if you try an online speed checker to determine the speed of your broadband connection?
First, let us define what broadband Internet speed tests actually do. As the name implies, this type of test will help you calculate or determine the speed of your Internet connection.
When you visit a site which offers free broadband Internet speed testing - it works in such a way that when you click on the button to begin the testing - a file will be downloaded from a server.
In some cases, a file will also be uploaded from a server. After the test is finished, the average upload and download speed will be measured. This way, you will know whether your Internet Service Provider or ISP is living up to its promise of giving you a particular broadband Internet speed.
Broadband Speed Test: Does this “Speed Checker” Really Work?
As you can see from the aforementioned explanation, the way that broadband Internet speed tests work is exceedingly simple. As such - there may be instances when the results are not 100% accurate.
For example, if you are from the United Kingdom and you go to a broadband Internet speed test site which is based in the US - the results of the test may vary.
This is why it is recommended that you visit local sites within the UK if you want to determine your broadband Internet speed through online speed checkers.
However, the good thing about these broadband Internet speed tests is that they can be used if you are experiencing a problem with your speed or connection. If the results of the speed test is way off from the download or upload speed that you are expecting from your ISP - then you can call them up to have your Internet connection checked.
Article Author : Caroline Telford
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